The Miss Pacific Islands Pageant committee is standing firm against a statement made by Acting Prime Minister Filimoni Vosarogo, declaring that Ailava Samuels will be Fiji’s official representative at the upcoming regional event. This decision comes after Vosarogo publicly stated that the Cabinet had authorized funding for both the Miss Fiji Pageant and the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, based on the assumption that the winner of Miss Fiji would take on the role of Fiji’s representative.
Vosarogo emphasized the importance of adhering to Cabinet decisions, especially when public funds are at stake, reinforcing that the Cabinet is the highest decision-making body in the government. However, the Pacific Islands Pageant Secretariat and the local organizing committee have rejected Vosarogo’s interpretation of the matter.
In their response, the committee pointed out that they are following the instructions of the line minister for Local Government and Housing, who has mandated that Miss Ailava Samuels be the representative. They contend that Vosarogo’s comments contradict the stance of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and the minister responsible for presenting the Cabinet paper.
The committee stressed that the government should not interfere in the operational matters of independent pageant organizations, including the selection processes governed by their specific rules and regional affiliations. They have received formal confirmation from the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant Secretariat regarding Ailava Samuels’ status as Fiji’s representative.
Furthermore, the committee cautioned that any effort to replace Samuels would jeopardize Fiji’s participation in the pageant altogether. Following the Acting Prime Minister’s remarks, the committee has been directed by the line minister to ignore his comments and proceed with their preparations for the event, which is set to take place in Nadi next month.
This situation highlights the complex dynamics between governmental decisions and independent organizations in ceremonial representation, showcasing a commitment to the pageant’s integrity while emphasizing the importance of following official directives.
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